Latest News Articles by Roland Arkell
Fertile imagination can generate a healthy price
22 January 2024This terracotta figure is typical of the highly stylised pottery models honouring a fertility or mother goddess, made in Persia in the first millennium BC.
Beck Underground map success blew away Stanford bubbles version
22 January 2024London Transport commissioned publisher Edward Stanford to create the so-called ‘Bubble Map’ in 1934-35.
Six-figure candlestick stands out as a shining example of Mamluk artistry
22 January 2024Estimated at $5000-10,000, a 14th century candlestick made during the classical period of Mamluk artistic production hammered for $100,000 (£79,500) at Leland Little (20% buyer’s premium) in Hillsborough, North Carolina, on December 1.
Archive shines light on Wedgwood Liberty ware
22 January 2024A rare archive related to the Wedgwood Liberty Ware project designed to raise money for victims of the First World War comes for sale at Freeman’s Hindman in Philadelphia.
Abigail and Maria’s sampler skills still celebrated today
22 January 2024There is a huge disconnect today between the best and rest in the sampler world.
Exceptional George II chairs lead Manolovici collection at Doyle
19 January 2024Three exceptional George II period chairs lead the line in the upcoming Old Masters, English & Continental Furniture auction at Doyle New York.
Bronzes from the Biennais Napoleonides series surface in upstate New York
19 January 2024Spotted in a regular ‘Thursday Morning at Stair’ sale in upstate New York, a trio of French Empire gilt bronzes by Martin-Guillaume Biennais sold way above expectations on January 15.
Rediscovered Ashbee piano with exhibition history sounds a £16,000 note
17 January 2024A recently-rediscovered version of one of the best known Guild of Handicraft designs has sold at Sworders for £16,000.
Remarkable Wedgwood Liberty Ware archive comes to market
16 January 2024An archive related to the Wedgwood Liberty Ware project designed to raise money for victims of the First World War comes for sale at Freeman's Hindman in Philadelphia.
Portrait of 18th century conjurer Joseph Pinetti works magic at auction
15 January 2024A rare portrait of the magician Chevalier Joseph Pinetti (1750-1800) emerged for sale in Asheville, North Carolina.
An Evelyn De Morgan drawing is among five lots to watch
15 January 2024With estimates from £100, here are five previews of items coming up at auction this week.
Pick of the week: Troubled treaty port revealed in photo form
15 January 2024Estimated at £3000-5000, an album containing possibly unique views in the Treaty Port of Chinkiang (Zhenjiang) sold for £8200 (plus 25% buyer’s premium) at the Flints auction on January 9.
Wedding textile takes 144 times its top estimate
15 January 2024A 19th century silk weaving sold for a surprise £26,000 in East Sussex.
Ruskin pottery factory collection in demand
15 January 2024An extensive collection of pottery that came from the original Ruskin factory was in demand at Dreweatts.
Gobelins pietra dura panel picked out at six figures at Paris auction
15 January 2024It was in the hope of saving on the huge sums spent procuring works of art from abroad that Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV’s minister of finance, began inviting craftsmen to work at the Gobelins royal manufactory on the outskirts of Paris.
Panini also a World Cup winner in 1970 – plus Newton Heath trade card
15 January 2024The 1970 World Cup was the breakthrough year for Panini.
Ruskin pottery collection stars in Dreweatts’ Interiors sale
11 January 2024Pottery that came from the original Ruskin factory collection drew healthy competition at an auction in Newbury.
Chicago auction house Hindman merges with Philadelphia-based Freeman’s
10 January 2024Chicago auction house Hindman has announced a merger with Philadelphia-based Freeman’s and the opening of a saleroom in Manhattan’s Upper East Side.